Electrospun Cu-Co ferrite nanofibers: synthesis, structure, optical and magnetic properties, and anti-cancer activity

In this study, we investigated Cu-Co ferrite nanofibers (NFs) that were synthesized for the first time employing the electrospinning technique. The structure, phase purity and crystallite size of all the prepared NFs were revealed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. The NFs crystallized in the Fd3̄m (no. 227) space group and the cation distribution arrangement over distinct sites in their structure was analyzed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) together with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy analysis showed the microstructure of the NFs and verified their expected chemical compositions. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images confirmed the fibrous nature and the construction of the NFs. The band gap energies derived from the UV-vis reflectance spectra showed a blue shift with an increase in the amount of Cu in the sample from 1.42 eV to 1.86 eV. Magnetization (M) as a function of magnetic field (H) measurements performed at ambient and low temperatures showed the ferrimagnetic behavior of all the NFs. The magnetic parameters including coercivity (Hc), saturation magnetization (Ms), remanent magnetization (Mr), and squareness ratio were determined from the recorded magnetization curves. At 300 K, Ms was reduced from 78.8 to 42.4 emu g-1, Mr reduced from 22.8 to 7.6 emu g-1 and the Bohr magneton reduced from 3.3 to 1.8μB with an increase in the content of Cu in the samples. The same trend was observed at 10 K, where Ms was reduced from 93.7 to 50.9 emu g-1, Mr reduced from 60.9 to 35.9 emu g-1 and the Bohr magneton reduced from 3.94 to 2.16μB. Alternatively, Hc has the highest values for x = 0 (850 Oe at 300 K and 5220 Oe at 10 K) and x = 0.6 (800 Oe at 300 K and 5400 Oe at 10 K). The anti-cancer activity of the NFs was evaluated using the MTT cell viability assay, showing a reduction in the viability of both HCT-116 and HeLa cancer cells compared to non-cancerous HEK-293 cells after treatment with the NFs. Apoptotic activity was examined by DAPI staining, where treatment with the NFs induced chromatin condensation and nuclear disintegration in HCT-116 cells.

Progress and Perspectives in Colon Cancer Pathology, Diagnosis, and Treatments

Worldwide, colon cancer is the third most frequent malignancy and the second most common cause of death. Although it can strike anybody at any age, colon cancer mostly affects the elderly. Small, non-cancerous cell clusters inside the colon, commonly known as polyps, are typically where colon cancer growth starts. But over time, if left untreated, these benign polyps may develop into malignant tissues and develop into colon cancer. For the diagnosis of colon cancer, with routine inspection of the colon region for polyps, several techniques, including colonoscopy and cancer scanning, are used. In the case identifying the polyps in the colon area, efforts are being taken to surgically remove the polyps as quickly as possible before they become malignant. If the polyps become malignant, then colon cancer treatment strategies, such as surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, are applied to the patients. Despite the recent improvements in diagnosis and prognosis, the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a challenging task. The objective of this review was to discuss how CRC is initiated, and its various developmental stages, pathophysiology, and risk factors, and also to explore the current state of colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment, as well as recent advancements in the field, such as new screening methods and targeted therapies. We examined the limitations of current methods and discussed the ongoing need for research and development in this area. While this topic may be serious and complex, we hope to engage and inform our audience on this important issue.

Anticancer Activity of Au/CNT Nanocomposite Fabricated by Nanosecond Pulsed Laser Ablation Method on Colon and Cervical Cancer

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are increasingly being investigated for cancer management due to their physicochemical properties, low toxicity, and biocompatibility. This study used an eco-friendly technique (laser synthesis) to fabricate AuNP and Au/CNT nanocomposites. AuNPs, Au/CNTs, and CNTs were tested as potential cancer nanotherapeutics on colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT-116) and cervical cancer cells (HeLa) using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. In addition, the non-cancer embryonic kidney cells HEK-293 were taken as a control in the study. The cell viability assay demonstrated a significant reduction in cancer cell population post 48 h treatments of AuNPs, and Au/CNTs. The average cell viabilities of AuNPs, Au/CNTs, and CNTs for HCT-116 cells were 50.62%, 65.88%, 93.55%, and for HeLa cells, the cell viabilities were 50.88%, 66.51%, 91.73%. The cell viabilities for HEK-293 were 50.44%, 65.80%, 93.20%. Both AuNPs and Au/CNTs showed higher cell toxicity and cell death compared with CNT nanomaterials. The treatment of AuNPs and Au/CNTs showed strong inhibitory action on HCT-116 and HeLa cells. However, the treatment of CNTs did not significantly decrease HCT-116 and HeLa cells, and there was only a minor decrease. The treatment of AuNPs, and Au/CNTs, on normal HEK-293 cells also showed a significant decrease in cell viability, but the treatment of CNTs did not produce a significant decrease in the HEK-293 cells. This study shows that a simplified synthesis technique like laser synthesis for the preparation of high-purity nanomaterials has good efficacy for possible future cancer therapy with minimal toxicity.

Morphometric analysis and roosting ecology of bat species Pteropus Medius in Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Morphometric measurement and roosting ecology of Pteropus medius were aimed to find out in Mansehra district of KP, Pakistan. Total 3149 numbers of bats were found in eight biological spots visited; Baffa Doraha, Darband, Dadar, Jallu, Hazara University, Garhi Habibullah Chattar Plain and Jabori, in total 299 numbers of different species of trees including; Morus alba, Pinus raxburghi, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Morus nigra, Grevillea robusta, Brousonetia papyrifera, Platanus orientalis, Ailanthus altissima, Hevea brasiliensis and Populus nigra. Morphometric features were measured and found vary according to sex of the bats. The average wing span, wing`s length from tip of wing to neck, from thumb to tip of wing and the body`s length from head and claws were recorded to be 102.98 cm, 49.07cm, 28.7 cm and 22.78 cm respectively in males while 93.67 cm, 44.83cm, 24.78cm and 22.78 cm respectively in female bats. Mean circumference of the body including wings and without wing were measured as 22.78 cm and 17.29 cm in males and that of female were 20.07 cm and 16.9 cm. Average length of thumb 3.64 cm, ear`s length 3.1 cm, snout 5.62cm, eye length were 1.07 cm for both sexes and length between the feet in extended position were16.3 cm. Generally different measurement of males bodies were found to be greater than female such as mean body surface area, mass, volume and pressure were found to be 2691.79 cm2, 855.7gm,1236.4 ml and 295.77 dyne/ c m 3 for male and 2576.46 cm2, 852.71gm,1207 ml and 290.2 dyne/ c m 3 respectively for female. While weight and density for both males and females bats were same with mean of 8.59 newton and 0.701 g/m3. Findings of current reports can add valued information in literature about bats, which can be used for species identification and conservation.

Nano-sized warriors: zinc chromium vanadate nanoparticles as a dual solution for eradicating waterborne enterobacteriaceae and fighting cancer

The revolution of biomedical applications has opened new avenues for nanotechnology. Zinc Chromium vanadate nanoparticles (VCrZnO4 NPs) have emerged as an up-and-coming candidate, with their exceptional physical and chemical properties setting them apart. In this study, a one-pot solvothermal method was employed to synthesize VCrZnO4 NPs, followed by a comprehensive structural and morphological analysis using a variety of techniques, including X-Ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Energy-dispersive X-ray, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These techniques confirmed the crystallinity of the NPs. The VCrZnO4 NPs were tested for their antibacterial activity against primary contaminants such as Enterobacteriaceae, including Shigella flexneri, Salmonella cholerasis, and Escherichia coli, commonly found in hospital settings, using the broth dilution technique. The results indicated a stronger antibacterial activity of VCrZnO4 NPs against Shigella and Salmonella than E. coli. Electron microscopy showed that the NPs caused severe damage to the bacterial cell wall and membrane, leading to cell death. In addition, the study evaluated the anticancer activities of the metal complexes in vitro using colorectal cancer cells (HCT-116) and cervical cancer cells (HELA), along with non-cancer cells and human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293). A vanadium complex demonstrated efficient anticancer effects with half-inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of 38.50+3.50 g/mL for HCT-116 cells and 42.25+4.15 g/mL for HELA cells. This study highlights the potential of Zinc Chromium vanadate nanoparticles as promising candidates for antibacterial and anticancer applications. Various advanced characterization techniques were used to analyze the properties of nanomaterials, which may help develop more effective and safer antibacterial and anticancer agents in the future.

Therapeutic enhancing potential of piracetam with diethylstilbestrol in prevention of grand-mal seizures in rats: inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α cytokines levels

OBJECTIVE

Epilepsy, a neurodegenerative disorder, continues to throw challenges in the therapeutic management. The current study sought to ascertain if the therapeutic interactions between piracetam and diethylstilbestrol may prevent grand-mal seizures in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Piracetam (PIR; 10 and 20 mg/kg) and diethylstilbestrol (DES; 10 and 20 mg/kg) alone as a low-dose combination were administered to rats for 14 days. The electroshock (MES; 180 mA, 220 V for 0.20 s) was delivered via auricular electrodes on the last day of treatment and rats were monitored for convulsive behavior. To elucidate the mechanism, hippocampal mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrotic factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were quantified. Hippocampal histopathology was conducted to study the neuroprotective effect of drug/s. In vitro studies and in silico studies were conducted in parallel.

RESULTS

To our surprise, the low dose of the combination regimen of PIR (10 mg/kg) and DES (10 mg/kg) unfolded synergistic anti-seizure potential, with brimming neuroprotective properties. The mechanism could be related to a significant reduction in the levels of hippocampal mTOR and proinflammatory cytokines. The docking scores revealed higher affinities for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in co-bound complex, and when docking DES first, while better affinities for protein kinase B (Akt) were revealed when docking PIR first (both drugs bind cooperatively as well). This indicated that the entire PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway is intercepted by the said combination. In addition, the % of cell viability of HEK-293 cells [pre-exposed to pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)] was increased by 327.29% compared to PTZ-treated cells (toxic control; 85.16%).

CONCLUSIONS

We are the first to report the promising efficacy of the combination (PIR 10 mg/kg + DES 10 mg/kg) to restrain seizures and epileptogenic changes induced by electroshock by a novel mechanism involving inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling.

Nanotechnology in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Traditional cancer diagnosis has been aided by the application of nanoparticles (NPs), which have made the process easier and faster. NPs possess exceptional properties such as a larger surface area, higher volume proportion, and better targeting capabilities. Additionally, their low toxic effect on healthy cells enhances their bioavailability and t-half by allowing them to functionally penetrate the fenestration of epithelium and tissues. These particles have attracted attention in multidisciplinary areas, making them the most promising materials in many biomedical applications, especially in the treatment and diagnosis of various diseases. Today, many drugs are presented or coated with nanoparticles for the direct targeting of tumors or diseased organs without harming normal tissues/cells. Many types of nanoparticles, such as metallic, magnetic, polymeric, metal oxide, quantum dots, graphene, fullerene, liposomes, carbon nanotubes, and dendrimers, have potential applications in cancer treatment and diagnosis. In many studies, nanoparticles have been reported to show intrinsic anticancer activity due to their antioxidant action and cause an inhibitory effect on the growth of tumors. Moreover, nanoparticles can facilitate the controlled release of drugs and increase drug release efficiency with fewer side effects. Nanomaterials such as microbubbles are used as molecular imaging agents for ultrasound imaging. This review discusses the various types of nanoparticles that are commonly used in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Nanocarriers based novel and effective drug delivery system

Nanotechnology has ultimately come into the domain of drug delivery. Nanosystems for delivery of drugs are promptly emerging science utilizing different nanoparticles as carriers. Biocompatible and stable nanocarriers are novel diagnosis tools or therapy agents for explicitly targeting locates with controllable way. Nanocarriers propose numerous advantages to treat diseases via site-specific as well as targeted delivery of particular therapeutics. In recent times, there are number of outstanding nanocarriers use to deliver bio-, chemo-, or immuno- therapeutic agents to obtain effectual therapeutic reactions and to minimalize unwanted adverse-effects. Nanoparticles possess remarkable potential for active drug delivery. Moreover, conjugation of drugs with nanocarriers protects drugs from metabolic or chemical modifications, through their way to targeted cells and hence increased their bioavailability. In this review, various systems integrated with different types of nanocarriers (inorganic. organic, quantum dots, and carbon nanotubes) having different compositions, physical and chemical properties have been discussed for drug delivery applications.

Comparative Anticancer Potentials of Taxifolin and Quercetin Methylated Derivatives against HCT-116 Cell Lines: Effects of O-Methylation on Taxifolin and Quercetin as Preliminary Natural Leads

Six flavonoids present in Pulicaria jaubertii, i.e., 7,3'-di-O-methyltaxifolin (1), 3'-O-methyltaxifolin (2), 7-O-methyltaxifolin (3), taxifolin (4), 3-O-methylquercetin (5), and quercetin (6), were tested for their anticancer activities. The methylated flavonoids, compounds 1-3 and 5, were evaluated for their anticancer activities in comparison to the non-methylated parent flavonoids taxifolin (4) and quercetin (6). The structures of the known compounds were reconfirmed by spectral analyses using ¹H and ¹³C NMR data comparisons and HRMS spectrometry. The anticancer activity of these compounds was evaluated in colon cancer, HCT-116, and noncancerous, HEK-293, cell lines using the MTT antiproliferative assays. The caspase-3 and caspase-9 expressions and DAPI (4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining assays were used to evaluate the apoptotic activity. All the compounds exhibited antiproliferative activity against the HCT-116 cell line with IC₅₀ values at 33 ± 1.25, 36 ± 2.25, 34 ± 2.15, 32 ± 2.35, 34 ± 2.65, and 36 ± 1.95 μg/mL for compounds 1 to 6, respectively. All the compounds produced a significant reduction in HCT-116 cell line proliferation, except compounds 2 and 6. The viability of the HEK-293 normal cells was found to be significantly higher than the viability of the cancerous cells at all of the tested concentrations, thus suggesting that all the compounds have better inhibitory activity on the cancer cell line. Apoptotic features such as chromatin condensation and nuclear shrinkage were also induced by the compounds. The expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 genes increased in HCT-116 cell lines after 48 h of treatment, suggesting cell death by the apoptotic pathways. The molecular docking studies showed favorable binding affinity against different pro- and antiapoptotic proteins by these compounds. The docking scores were minimum as compared to the caspase-9, caspase-3, Bcl-xl, and JAK2.

In Vitro, Molecular Docking and In Silico ADME/Tox Studies of Emodin and Chrysophanol against Human Colorectal and Cervical Carcinoma

Anthraquinones (AQs) are present in foods, dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, and traditional treatments and have a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities. In the search for anti-cancer drugs, AQ derivatives are an important class. In this study, anthraquinone aglycons chrysophanol (Chr), emodin (EM) and FDA-approved anticancer drug fluorouracil were analyzed by molecular docking studies against receptor molecules caspase-3, apoptosis regulator Bcl-2, TRAF2 and NCK-interacting protein kinase (TNIK) and cyclin-dependent protein kinase 2 (CDK2) as novel candidates for future anticancer therapeutic development. The ADMET SAR database was used to predict the toxicity profile and pharmacokinetics of the Chr and EM. Furthermore, in silico results were validated by the in vitro anticancer activity against HCT-116 and HeLa cell lines to determine the anticancer effect. According to the docking studies simulated by the docking program AutoDock Vina 4.0, Chr and EM had good binding energies against the target proteins. It has been observed that Chr and EM show stronger molecular interaction than that of the FDA-approved anticancer drug fluorouracil. In the in vitro results, Chr and EM demonstrated promising anticancer activity in HCT-116 and HeLa cells. These findings lay the groundwork for the potential use of Chr and EM in the treatment of human colorectal and cervical carcinomas.

Therapeutic Intervention for Various Hospital Setting Strains of Biofilm Forming Candida auris with Multiple Drug Resistance Mutations Using Nanomaterial Ag-Silicalite-1 Zeolite

Candida auris (C. auris), an emerging multidrug-resistant microorganism, with limited therapeutical options, is one of the leading causes of nosocomial infections. The current study includes 19 C. auris strains collected from King Fahd Hospital of the University and King Fahad Specialist Hospital in Dammam, identified by 18S rRNA gene and ITS region sequencing. Drug-resistance-associated mutations in ERG11, TAC1B and FUR1 genes were screened to gain insight into the pattern of drug resistance. Molecular identification was successfully achieved using 18S rRNA gene and ITS region and 5 drug-resistance-associated missense variants identified in the ERG11 (F132Y and K143R) and TAC1B (H608Y, P611S and A640V) genes of C. auris strains, grouped into 3 clades. The prophylactic and therapeutic application of hydrothermally synthesized Ag-silicalite-1 (Si/Ag ratio 25) nanomaterial was tested against the 3 clades of clinical C. auris strains. 4wt%Ag/TiZSM-5 prepared using conventional impregnation technique was used for comparative study, and nano formulations were characterized using different techniques. The antibiofilm activity of nanomaterials was tested by cell kill assay, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy. Across all the clades of C. auris strains, 4 wt%Ag/TiZSM-5 and Ag-silicalite-1 demonstrated a significant (p = 1.1102 × 10^-16) inhibitory effect on the biofilm's survival rate: the lowest inhibition value was (10%) with Ag-silicalite-1 at 24 and 48 h incubation. A profound change in morphogenesis in addition to the reduction in the number of C.auris cells was shown by SEM and light microscopy. The presence of a high surface area and the uniform dispersion of nanosized Ag species displays enhanced anti-Candida activity, and therefore it has great potential against the emerging multidrug-resistant C. auris.

Utilization of Antenatal Care Services by the Urban Slum Women

It is obvious that the urban population was blessed with all the modern health facilities the country could afford and side by side rapid urbanization leads to the development of slum areas throughout the city. Though the slum dwellers are part of the urban population their accessibility and utilization of health services are beyond imagination. This study was conducted to assess the utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services by urban slum women. A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among purposively selected 325 women, who experienced at least a live birth in the last 3 years and habitat of Korail and Ershadnogor slums of Dhaka from July 2018 to December 2018. The mean age of the participants was 24.7±5.2 years with 70.5% literacy rate and 65.8% were homemakers. About two-thirds (62.5%) of women experienced their 1st delivery between 17-21 years of age. Throughout pregnancy, 71.1% received antenatal checkups and among them, 66.1% took ANC ≥4 times. Half (51.7%) of deliveries were conducted at home. There was a significant association between ANC visits with the place of the last delivery (p<0.001) and a significant association between the number of ANC visits at the place of the last delivery (p=0.019). Study shows the inadequate utilization of ANC services by slum woman in contrast to urban residents. So, it is obvious that the available healthcare services need to recast for the slum habitats which should be need-based and address their drawbacks to all.

Convenient Synthesis of N-Alkyl-2-(3-phenyl-quinoxalin-2-ylsulfanyl)acetamides and Methyl-2-[2-(3-phenyl-quinoxalin-2-ylsulfanyl)acetylamino]alkanoates

A series of 27 new quinoxaline derivatives (N-alkyl-[2-(3-phenyl-quinoxalin-2-ylsulfanyl)]acetamides, methyl-2-[2-(3-phenylquinoxalin-2-ylsulfanyl)-acetylamino]alkanoates, and their corresponding dipeptides) were prepared from 3-phenylquinoxaline-2(1H)-thione based on the chemoselective reaction with soft electrophiles. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to study the efficacy of 27 compounds on cancer cell viability and proliferation. A total of 13 compounds (4a-c, 5, 6, 8c, 9c, 9f, 10a, 10b, 11c, 12b, and 12c) showed inhibitory action on HCT-116 cancer cells and 15 compounds (4a-c, 5, 6, 8c, 9a, 9c, 9f, 9h, 10b, 11c, 12a, 12b, and 12c) showed activity on MCF-7 cancer cells, with compound 10b exhibiting the highest inhibitory action (IC₅₀ 1.52 and 2 μg/mL, respectively) on both cell lines. The molecular modeling studies on the human thymidylate synthase (hTS) homodimer interface showed that these compounds are good binders and could selectively inhibit the enzyme by stabilizing its inactive conformation. The study also identified key residues for homodimer binding, which could be used for further optimization and development.

Trio-Drug Combination of Sodium Valproate, Baclofen and Thymoquinone Exhibits Synergistic Anticonvulsant Effects in Rats and Neuro-Protective Effects in HEK-293 Cells

Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder, with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) providing relief from hyper-excitability of neurons, but largely failing to restrain neurodegeneration. We investigated a progressive preclinical trial in rats, whereby the test drugs; sodium valproate (SVP; 150 and 300 mg/kg), baclofen (BFN; 5 and 10 mg/kg), and thymoquinone (THQ; 40 and 80 mg/kg) were administered (i.p, once/day for 15 days) alone, and as low dose combinations, and subsequently tested for antiseizure and neuroprotective potential using electrical stimulation of neurons by Maximal electroshock (MES). The seizure stages were monitored, and hippocampal levels of m-TOR, IL-1β, IL-6 were measured. Hippocampal histopathology was also performed. Invitro and Insilco studies were run to counter-confirm the results from rodent studies. We report the synergistic effect of trio-drug combination; SVP (150 mg/kg), BFN (5 mg/kg) and THQ (40 mg/kg) against generalized seizures. The Insilco results revealed that trio-drug combination binds the Akt active site as a supramolecular complex, which could have served as a delivery system that affects the penetration and the binding to the new target. The potential energy of the ternary complex in the Akt active site after dynamics simulation was found to be -370.426 Kcal/mol, while the supramolecular ternary complex alone was -38.732 Kcal/mol, with a potential energy difference of -331.694 Kcal/mol, which favors the supramolecular ternary complex at Akt active site binding. In addition, the said combination increased cell viability by 267% and reduced morphological changes induced by Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) in HEK-293 cells, which indicates the neuroprotective property of said combination. To conclude, we are the first to report the anti-convulsant and neuroprotective potential of the trio-drug combination.

Current Trend of Aerobic Bacteria and Their Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern in Burn Wound Infection of A Tertiary Care Hospital, Rajshahi

Burn injury is still a life-threatening event, associated with high mortality and morbidity inspite of recent advances and infection control practices. This cross sectional study was conducted at Microbiology department of Rajshahi Medical College (RMC), Bangladesh with the objective to provide an insight into the current trend of aerobic bacteria with their antibiogram in burn wound infected patients admitted in Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of RMCH from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2016. A total of 212 wound swabs were collected and processed as per standard protocol. The isolates were identified by standard microbiological techniques and antimicrobial susceptibility was performed by Modified Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Burn injurywas highest (44.81%) in age group 21-30 years in fire related burn patients (41.98%) and female were predominant (59.91%). Among 212 samples 89.62% yielded growth and 196 bacterial species were isolated in which P. aeruginosa were the predominant organism (34.18%) followed by Proteus spp. (23.47%), Klebsiella spp. (14.80%), E. coli (11.73%), S. aureus (10.71%), Acinetobacter spp. & CoNS (2.04%) and Enterobacter spp. (1.03%). In this study meropenem, amikacin and vancomycin were highly sensitive drugs but 3rd generation cephalosporin and ciprofloxacin showed resistance. Therefore continuous microbiological surveillance and careful in vitro testing prior to antibiotic treatment is required to reduce the emergence of multidrug resistant pathogens.

Template-free preparation of iron oxide loaded hollow silica spheres and their anticancer proliferation capabilities

Hollow silica spheres were loaded with Fe3O4 NPs (u-HSS-Fe) and calcined further to remove the non-degradable phenyl groups (c-HSS-Fe) for anticancer applications.

Emerging trends in the application of gold nanoformulations in colon cancer diagnosis and treatment

Colorectal cancer is one of the most aggressive types of cancer with about two million new cases and one million deaths in 2020. The side effects of the available chemotherapies and the possibility of developing resistance against treatment highlight the importance of developing new therapeutic options. The development in the field of nanotechnology have introduced the application of nanoparticles (NPs) as a promising approach in the diagnosis and treatments of colorectal cancer and other types of cancer. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are currently one of the most studied materials as they possess unique tunable properties allowing them to play a role in colorectal cancer bioimaging, diagnosis, and therapy. The high surface-to-volume ratio of AuNPs mediates their utilization in drug delivery as well as functionalization to provide specific targeting. Moreover, depending on their physical properties (size, shape), AuNPs can be modified to fit the intended application. However, there are contradictory results around the pharmacokinetics of AuNPs including their biodistribution, clearance, and toxicity. This variation of opinions is most likely due to the development of different AuNPs that vary in shape, size, and surface chemistry, in addition to the conditions under which each research was carried out. The conflicting data represent a challenge in the clinical use of AuNPs suggesting the need to understand the toxicity, fate, and long-term exposure of AuNPs in vivo. Thus, there is an unmet need for the establishment of a publicly available data base for extensive analysis. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in AuNP applications in the treatment and diagnosis of colorectal cancer, mechanisms of action, and clinical challenges.

Combinatorial Regimen of Carbamazepine and Imipramine Exhibits Synergism against Grandmal Epilepsy in Rats: Inhibition of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway

Epilepsy is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes recurring seizures. Thirty-five percent of patients remain refractory, with a higher prevalence of depression. We investigated the anticonvulsant efficacy of carbamazepine (CBZ; 20 and 50 mg/kg), imipramine (IMI; 10 and 20 mg/kg) alone, and as a low dose combination. This preclinical investigation included dosing of rats for 14 days followed by elicitation of electroshock on the last day of treatment. Along with behavioral monitoring, the rat hippocampus was processed for quantification of mTOR, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels. The histopathological analysis of rat hippocampus was performed to ascertain neuroprotection. In vitro studies and in silico studies were also conducted. We found that the low dose combinatorial therapy of CBZ (20 mg/kg) + IMI (10 mg/kg) exhibits synergism (p < 0.001) in abrogation of maximal electroshock (MES) induced convulsions/tonic hind limb extension (THLE), by reducing levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and weakening of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal. The combination also exhibits cooperative binding at the Akt. As far as neuroprotection is concerned, the said combination increased cell viability by 166.37% compared to Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) treated HEK-293 cells. Thus, the combination of CBZ (20 mg/kg) + IMI (10 mg/kg) is a fruitful combination therapy to elevate seizure threshold and provide neuroprotection.

Thymoquinone Potentiates the Effect of Phenytoin against Electroshock-Induced Convulsions in Rats by Reducing the Hyperactivation of m-TOR Pathway and Neuroinflammation: Evidence from In Vivo, In Vitro and Computational Studies

Epilepsy is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by multiple seizures, hereto 35% of patients remain poor responders. Phenytoin (PHT; 20 and 40 mg/kg) and thymoquinone (THQ; 40 and 80 mg/kg) were given alone and as a low dose combination for 14 days (p.o), prior to challenge with maximal electroshock (MES; 180 mA, 220 V, 0.2 s). Apart from observing convulsions, hippocampal mTOR, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels were measured. Hippocampal histomorphological analysis was also conducted. In vitro cell line studies and molecular docking studies were run in parallel. The results revealed the synergistic potential of the novel duo-drug combination regimen: PHT (20 mg/kg) and THQ (40 mg/kg) against MES-induced convulsions. MES amplified signaling through mTOR, and inflated the levels of proinflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α), which was significantly averted (p < 0.001) with the said drug combination. The computational studies revealed that PHT and THQ cooperatively bind the active site on Akt (upstream target of m-TOR) and establish a good network of intermolecular interactions, which indicates the sequential inhibition of PI3K/Akt/m-TOR signaling with the combination. The combination also increased cell viability by 242.81% compared to 85.66% viability from the the toxic control. The results suggest that the PHT and THQ in combination possesses excellent anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects.

Immunotherapy for Alzheimer's Disease: Current Scenario and Future Perspectives

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a global health concern owing to its complexity, which often poses a great challenge to the development of therapeutic approaches. No single theory has yet accounted for the various risk factors leading to the pathological and clinical manifestations of dementia-type AD. Therefore, treatment options targeting various molecules involved in the pathogenesis of the disease have been unsuccessful. However, the exploration of various immunotherapeutic avenues revitalizes hope after decades of disappointment. The hallmark of a good immunotherapeutic candidate is not only to remove amyloid plaques but also to slow cognitive decline. In line with this, both active and passive immunotherapy have shown success and limitations. Recent approval of aducanumab for the treatment of AD demonstrates how close passive immunotherapy is to being successful. However, several major bottlenecks still need to be resolved. This review outlines recent successes and challenges in the pursuit of an AD vaccine.

Characterization of a Coliphage AS1 isolated from sewage effluent in Pakistan

The emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial strains, which are posing a global health threat has developed the interest of scientists to use bacteriophages instead of conventional antibiotics therapy. In light of an increased interest in the use of phage as a bacterial control agent, the study aimed to isolate and characterize lytic phages from sewage effluent. During the current study, bacteriophage AS1 was isolated from sewage effluent against E.coli S2. The lytic activity of phageAS1 was limited to E.coli S2 strain showing monovalent behavior. The calculated phage titer was 3.5×109 pfu/ml. PhageAS1 was stable at a wide range of pH and temperature. The maximum stability was recorded at 37ºC and pH 7.0, while showing its normal lytic activity at temperature 60ºC and from pH 5.0 to11.0 respectively. At temperature 70ºC, phage activity was somewhat reduced whereas, further increase in temperature and decrease or increase in pH completely inactivated the phage. From the current study, it was concluded that waste water is a best source for finding bacteriophages against multi-drug resistant bacterial strains and can be used as bacterial control agent.

Designing of Co0.5Ni0.5GaxFe2-xO4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) Microspheres via Hydrothermal Approach and Their Selective Inhibition on the Growth of Cancerous and Fungal Cells

The current study offers an efficient design of novel nanoparticle microspheres (MCs) using a hydrothermal approach. The Co_0.5Ni_0.5Ga_xFe_2−xO₄ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) MCs were prepared by engineering the elements, such as cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), and gallium (Ga). There was a significant variation in MCs’ physical structure and surface morphology, which was evaluated using energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The anti-proliferative activity of MCs was examined by MTT assay and DAPI staining using human colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT-116), human cervical cancer cells (HeLa), and a non-cancerous cell line—human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293). Post 72 h treatment, MCs caused a dose dependent inhibition of growth and proliferation of HCT-116 and HeLa cells. Conversely, no cytotoxic effect was observed on HEK-293 cells. The anti-fungal action was assessed by the colony forming units (CFU) technique and SEM, resulting in the survival rate of Candida albicans as 20%, with severe morphogenesis, on treatment with MCs x = 1.0. These findings suggest that newly engineered microspheres have the potential for pharmaceutical importance, in terms of infectious diseases and anti-cancer therapy.

Adapting active case-finding for TB during the COVID-19 pandemic in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

The COVID-19 pandemic and response measures, including lockdowns and the reorientation of health services, have disrupted essential health services for other diseases, including TB, HIV and malaria. For TB, reductions in case detection due to the COVID-19 pandemic are projected to result in increased TB transmission, morbidity and mortality. Active case-finding (ACF) for TB using community-based approaches is a potential strategy to offset reductions in TB detection by obviating the need for patients to seek care at a health facility. A number of approaches can be used to conduct TB ACF safely and screen designated target populations while managing the risks of SARS-CoV-2 transmission for staff, individuals and the community. We present a framework of options for and experience of adapting TB ACF services in response to the challenges of COVID-19 in our programme in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Key changes have included revised prioritisation of target populations focusing on household contacts, reducing case-finding throughput, implementation of additional infection control measures and precautions, and integration of COVID-19 screening among those being screened for TB. Our approach could inform other programmes seeking to adapt TB ACF services to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on TB case detection.

Ultrasonic Synthesis and Biomedical Application of Mn0.5Zn0.5ErxYxFe2-2xO4 Nanoparticles

In the present study, biocompatible manganese nanoparticles have been linked with zinc and iron molecules to prepare different derivatives of Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Er_xY_xFe_2-2xO₄ NPs (x = 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10), using an ultrasonication approach. The structure, surface morphology, and chemical compositions of Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Er_xY_xFe_2-2xO₄ NPs were elucidated by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX) techniques. The bioactivity of Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Er_xY_xFe_2-2xO₄ NPs on normal (HEK-293) and (HCT-116) colon cancer cell line was evaluated. The Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Er_xY_xFe_2-2xO₄ NPs treatment post 48 h resulted in a significant reduction in cells (via MTT assay, having an IC₅₀ value between 0.88 µg/mL and 2.40 µg/mL). The specificity of Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Er_xY_xFe_2-2xO₄ NPs were studied by treating them on normal cells line (HEK-293). The results showed that Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Er_xY_xFe_2-2xO₄ NPs did not incur any effect on HEK-293, which suggests that Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Er_xY_xFe_2-2xO₄ NPs selectively targeted the colon cancerous cells. Using Candida albicans, antifungal activity was also studied by evaluating minimum inhibitory/fungicidal concentration (MIC/MFC) and the effect of nanomaterial on the germ tube formation, which exhibited that NPs significantly inhibited the growth and germ tube formation. The obtained results hold the potential to design nanoparticles that lead to efficient bioactivity.

Synthesis and Cytotoxic Activity of Novel Metal Complexes Derived from Methyl-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropanoate as Potential CDK8 Kinase Inhibitors

Several metal complexes of methyl-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropanoate derivatives were synthesized and tested for their anti-tumor activities. The ligands include 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropanoic acid (1), 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropanehydrazide (2), and 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-N'-(4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene)-3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropanehydrazide (3). The ligands were reacted with Cu (II), Ni (II), and La (III) ions. The formed complexes were characterized using elemental analysis (M%), molar conductivity in DMF (0.001 M), DTA, TG, FTIR, ICP-AES, and magnetic susceptibility. The chemical structures of the obtained complexes were interpreted, and their chemical formulas were postulated. The anti-cancer activities of these complexes were examined on human colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT-116) and also on normal cells (HEK-293). The 48 h post treatments showed that out of 12 compounds, 10 compounds showed inhibitory actions on HCT-116 cells, whereas two compounds did not show any inhibitory actions. Compounds 6c and 4a showed the highest inhibitory actions with IC50 = 0.154 and 0.18 mM and additionally compounds 3, 4b, and 6a with IC50 = 0.267, 0.205, and 0.284 mM, respectively. All tested compounds did not show any inhibitory action on normal HEK-293 cells. Molecular docking results provided a good evidence for activity of the lead compounds 3 and 4a as CDK8-CYCC kinase inhibitors, which may proposed the mechanism of action toward colon cancer therapy.

Biofabricated Fatty Acids-Capped Silver Nanoparticles as Potential Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antibiofilm and Anticancer Agents

The current study demonstrates the synthesis of fatty acids (FAs) capped silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous poly-herbal drug Liv52 extract (PLE) as a reducing, dispersing and stabilizing agent. The NPs were characterized by various techniques and used to investigate their potent antibacterial, antibiofilm, antifungal and anticancer activities. GC-MS analysis of PLE shows a total of 37 peaks for a variety of bio-actives compounds. Amongst them, n-hexadecanoic acid (21.95%), linoleic acid (20.45%), oleic acid (18.01%) and stearic acid (13.99%) were found predominately and most likely acted as reducing, stabilizing and encapsulation FAs in LIV-AgNPs formation. FTIR analysis of LIV-AgNPs shows some other functional bio-actives like proteins, sugars and alkenes in the soft PLE corona. The zone of inhibition was 10.0 ± 2.2-18.5 ± 1.0 mm, 10.5 ± 2.5-22.5 ± 1.5 mm and 13.7 ± 1.0-16.5 ± 1.2 against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and C. albicans, respectively. LIV-AgNPs inhibit biofilm formation in a dose-dependent manner i.e., 54.4% ± 3.1%-10.12% ± 2.3% (S. aureus), 72.7% ± 2.2%-23.3% ± 5.2% (P. aeruginosa) and 85.4% ± 3.3%-25.6% ± 2.2% (C. albicans), and SEM analysis of treated planktonic cells and their biofilm biomass validated the fitness of LIV-AgNPs in future nanoantibiotics. In addition, as prepared FAs rich PLE capped AgNPs have also exhibited significant (p < 0.05 *) antiproliferative activity against cultured HCT-116 cells. Overall, this is a very first demonstration on employment of FAs rich PLE for the synthesis of highly dispersible, stable and uniform sized AgNPs and their antibacterial, antifungal, antibiofilm and anticancer efficacy.

Carbon Nano Tubes: Novel Drug Delivery System in Amelioration of Alzheimer's Disease

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder manifested with symptoms like loss of memory (known as dementia), personality changes, loss of cognition, impaired movement, confusion, deteriorated planning and thought process. Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease is the result of the deposition of protein beta-amyloid that forms plaques and another protein called tau, forming tangles that prevent the proper functioning of nerve cells in the brain.

METHODS

The goal of the review was to comprehensively study the utilization of nanotechnology and the role that carbon nanotubes can play as a drug delivery system for the amelioration of Alzheimer's disease.

RESULTS

Nanotechnology is one of the most researched domains of modern science. It contributes significantly to therapeutics by facilitating drug therapy to reach the target sites, which are otherwise difficult to reach with conventional drug delivery systems. Carbon nanotubes are the allotropes of carbon in which several carbon atoms bind with each other to form a cylindrical or a tube-like structure. The carbon nanotubes possess several unique qualities, which confer them with a high potential of being utilized as an efficient drug delivery system. They offer high drug loading and can readily cross the toughest biological barriers like the BBB. Carbon nanotubes also facilitate the passage of drugs to the brain via the olfactory route, which further helps in restoring normal autophagy, thus preventing the elimination of autophagic chemicals. They can carry a vast range of cargos, including drugs, antigens, genetic materials, and biological macromolecules.

CONCLUSION

Carbon nanotubes are a highly promising drug delivery system for anti-Alzheimer's drugs. They have the potential of overcoming the various biological barriers like the BBB. However, more extensive research is required so as to set up a firm base for the development of advanced commercial products based on carbon nanotubes for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Evaluation of bioactivities of zinc oxide, cadmium sulfide and cadmium sulfide loaded zinc oxide nanostructured materials prepared by nanosecond pulsed laser

The present study reports the preparation of cadmium sulfide (CdS) loaded zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructured semiconductor material and its anti-bioactivity studies against cancerous and fungus cells. For composite preparation, two different mass ratios of CdS (10 and 20%) were loaded on ZnO (10%CdS/ZnO, 20%CdS/ZnO) using a 532 nm pulsed laser ablation in water media. The structural and morphological analyses confirmed the successful loading of nanoscaled CdS on the surface of ZnO particles, ZnO particles were largely spherical with average size ~50 nm, while CdS about 12 nm in size. The elemental and electron diffraction analyses reveal that the prepared composite, CdS/ZnO contained both CdS and ZnO, thus reaffirming the production of CdS loaded ZnO. The microscopic examination and MTT assay showed the significant impact of ZnO, CdS, and CdS loaded ZnO on human colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT-116 cells). Our results show that the prepared ZnO had better anticancer activities than individual CdS, and CdS loaded ZnO against cancerous cells. For antifungal efficacy, as-prepared nanomaterials were investigated against Candida albicans by examining minimum inhibitory/fungicidal concentration (MIC/MFC) and morphogenesis. The lowest MIC (0.5 mg/mL), and MFC values (1 mg/mL) were found for 10 and 20%CdS/ZnO. Furthermore, the morphological analyses reveal the severe damage of the cell membrane upon exposure of Candida strains to nanomaterials. The present study suggests that ZnO, CdS, and CdS loaded ZnO nanostructured materials possess potential anti-cancer and anti-fungal activities.

Synthesis of Ni0.5Co0.5-xCdxFe1.78Nd0.02O4 (x ≤ 0.25) nanofibers by using electrospinning technique induce anti-cancer and anti-bacterial activities

Here we report the electrospinning synthesis of Cd-substituted Ni-Co ferrite Ni_0.5Co_0.5-xCd_xFe_1.78Nd_0.02O₄ (x ≤ 0.25) nanofiber (NFs) with a very low concentration of Nd as a dopant. The structure and surface morphology of the Ni_0.5Co_0.5-xCd_xFe_1.78Nd_0.02O₄ (x ≤ 0.25) NFs were analyzed by X-ray powder pattern (XRD), transmission and scanning electron microscopes (TEM) along with Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX). We have examined the biological applications of the Ni_0.5Co_0.5-xCd_xFe_1.78Nd_0.02O₄ (x ≤ 0.25) NFs on both cancerous cells and bacterial cells. We have found that Ni_0.5Co_0.5-xCd_xFe_1.78Nd_0.02O₄ (x ≤ 0.25) NFs produced inhibitory action on the human colorectal carcinoma cells (HEK-293) and also showed inhibitory action on the bacterial strains (S. aureus and E. coli) respectively. Finally, this is the first report on the synthesis of Cd- substituted Co-Ni ferrite nanofibers using electrospinning technique exhibiting anti-cancer and anti-bacterial activities.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Single step production of high-purity copper oxide-titanium dioxide nanocomposites and their effective antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity against drug-resistant bacteria

In the present research work, copper oxide-titanium dioxide nanocomposites were synthesized for the first time using advanced pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) technique for disinfection of drug-resistant pathogenic waterborne biofilm-producing bacterial strains. For this, a series of copper oxide-titanium dioxide nanocomposites were synthesized by varying the composition of copper oxide (5%, 10%, and 20%) with titanium dioxide. The pure titanium dioxide and copper oxide-titanium dioxide nanocomposites were characterized by advanced instrumental techniques. XRD, TEM, FE-SEM, EDX, elemental mapping and XPS analysis results consistently revealed the successful formation of copper oxide-titanium dioxide nanocomposites using PLAL technique. The antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of pure titanium dioxide and copper oxide-titanium dioxide nanocomposites were investigated against biofilm-producing strains of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by various methods. Our results revealed that the PLAL synthesized copper oxide-titanium dioxide nanocomposites showed enhanced anti-biofilm and antibacterial activity compared to pure titanium dioxide in a dose-dependent manner against targeted pathogens. Furthermore, the effects of pure titanium dioxide and copper oxide-titanium dioxide nanocomposites on bacterial morphology, biofilm formation, aggregation and their colonization by targeted pathogens were also examined using scanning electron microscopy. Microscopic images clearly showed that the cell envelope of almost all the cells were rumples, rough, had irregularities and abnormal appearance with the major damage being characterized by the formation of "pits". Many depressions and indentations were also seen in their cell envelope and the original shape of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells changed from normal rod to swollen, large and elongated which indicates the loss of membrane integrity and damage of cell wall and membrane. The findings suggested that PLAL synthesized copper oxide-titanium dioxide nanocomposites have good potential for removal of biofilm or killing of pathogenic bacteria in water distribution network and for wastewater treatment, hospital and environmental applications. In addition, cytotoxic activity of pure TiO₂ and PLAL synthesized copper oxide-titanium dioxide nanocomposites against normal and healthy cells (HEK-293) and cancerous cells (HCT-116) were also evaluated by MTT assay. The MTT assay results showed no cytotoxic effects on HEK-293 cells, which suggest TiO₂ and PLAL synthesized copper oxide-titanium dioxide nanocomposites are non-toxic to the normal cells.

A Wild Fomes fomentarius for Biomediation of One Pot Synthesis of Titanium Oxide and Silver Nanoparticles for Antibacterial and Anticancer Application

The present study offers an alternative method for green synthesis of the formation of two types of nanoparticles (NPs). These NPs, titanium oxide and silver NPs (TiO₂ and Ag NPs, respectively), were obtained from the amalgamation of intracellular extract of a wild mushroom, Fomes fomentarius, with aqueous solutions of titanium isopropoxide and silver nitrate, respectively. F. fomentarius was identified phenotypically and by 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing (Gene accession no: MK635351). The biosynthesis of TiO₂ and Ag NPs was studied and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance UV-Visible spectroscopy (DR-UV), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Success was achieved in obtaining NPs of differing sizes and shapes. The antibacterial and anticancer activity of the NPs was significant with morphological damage being caused by both, although Ag NPs (10–20 nm) were found to have profound effects on bacterial and cancer cells in comparison to TiO₂ NPs (100–120 nm). These metal NPs, synthesized using wild mushrooms, hold a great potential in biomedicinedue to an effective enzyme combination, which permits them to modify different chemical compounds to less toxic forms, which is required for ecofriendly and safe biomaterials.

Targeted delivery of miRNA based therapeuticals in the clinical management of Glioblastoma Multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive (WHO grade IV) form of diffuse glioma endowed with tremendous invasive capacity. The availability of narrow therapeutic choices for GBM management adds to the irony, even the post-treatment median survival time is roughly around 14-16 months. Gene mutations seem to be cardinal to GBM formation, owing to involvement of amplified and mutated receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)-encoding genes, leading to dysregulation of growth factor signaling pathways. Of-late, the role of different microRNAs (miRNAs) in progression and proliferation of GBM was realized, which lead to their burgeon potential applications for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. miRNA signatures are intricately linked with onset and progression of GBM. Although, progression of GBM causes significant changes in the BBB to form BBTB, but still efficient passage of cancer therapeutics, including antibodies and miRNAs are prevented, leading to low bioavailability. Recent developments in the nanomedicine field provide novel approaches to manage GBM via efficient and brain targeted delivery of miRNAs either alone or as part of cytotoxic pharmaceutical composition, thereby modulating cell signaling in well predicted manner to promise positive therapeutic outcomes.

Synthesis of niobium substituted cobalt-nickel nano-ferrite (Co0.5Ni0.5NbxFe2-xO4 (x ≤ 0.1) by hydrothermal approach show strong anti-colon cancer activities

The combination of two or more nanoparticles found to be effective strategy to synthesize nanocomposites for better drug delivery and treatment. In the present study, we have combined cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), niobium (Nb), and iron oxide (Fe₂O₄) and prepared niobium substituted cobalt-nickel nano-ferrite nanocomposites (Co_0.5Ni_0.5Nb_xFe_2-xO₄ (x ≤ 0.1) by using hydrothermal approach. We have characterized the structure and morphology of nanocomposites by using XRD, EDX, TEM and SEM methodologies. We have examined the impact of nanocomposites (Co_0.5Ni_0.5Nb_xFe_2-xO₄ (x ≤ 0.1) on cancerous cells (human colorectal carcinoma cells, HCT-116) by using MTT assay. We have also checked the impact of nanocomposites on normal and non-cancerous cells (human embryonic kidney cells, HEK-293) to confirm the specificity of their actions. Post- 48 h treatment of Co_0.5Ni_0.5Nb_xFe_2-xO₄ (x ≤ 0.1) led to dose-dependent inhibition of cancer cells growth and proliferation. However, no cytotoxic effect was observed on the normal cells (HEK-293). In addition, DAPI stained nuclear DNA staining analysis demonstrates that the Co_0.5Ni_0.5Nb_xFe_2-xO₄ (x ≤ 0.1) treatment also caused nuclear DNA disintegration which is the marker for programmed cell death. These results demonstrate that synthesized nanocomposites Co_0.5Ni_0.5Nb_xFe_2-xO₄ (x ≤ 0.1) selectively target the colon cancer cells and induce cancer cell death.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Quantum dots encapsulated with curcumin inhibit the growth of colon cancer, breast cancer and bacterial cells

Aim: To synthesize and examine the impact of free Eudragit^® RS 100 nanoparticles (LN01), Quantum dots curcumin-loaded Eudragit RS 100 nanoparticles (LN04), and un-encapsulated curcumin nanoparticles (LN06) on cancerous and bacterial cells. Materials & methods: The LN01, LN04, LN06 were synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared, ζ potential, UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy and their biological activities were evaluated. Results: LN04 profoundly inhibited the growth of colon (HCT-116) cancerous cells (10.64% cell viability) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cells (10.32% cell viability) with compared to LN01 and LN06. Normal cells (HEK-293) did not show any inhibition after treatments. In addition, LN04 show better inhibitory action on bacterial growth compared with LN01 and LN06. Conclusion: We suggest that LN04 selectively target cancerous and bacterial cells and therefore possess potential anticancer and antibacterial capabilities.

Anticandidal and In vitro Anti-Proliferative Activity of Sonochemically synthesized Indium Tin Oxide Nanoparticles

The present work demonstrates the synthesis, characterization and biological activities of different concentrations of tin doped indium oxide nanoparticles (Sn doped In2O3 NPs), i.e., (Sn/In = 5%, 10% and 15%). We have synthesized different size (38.11 nm, 18.46 nm and 10.21 nm) of Sn doped In2O3 NPs. by using an ultra-sonication process. The Sn doped In2O3 NPs were characterized by by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) which confirmed the successful doping of tin (Sn) with Indium oxide (In2O3). Anticandidal activity was performed by standard agar dilution method using Candida albicans for the study. The minimum inhibitory/fungicidal concentration (MIC/MFC) values recorded were, 8 & >8 mg/ml for pure In2O3 NPs, 4 & 8 mg/ml for 5%, 2 & 8 mg/ml for 10%, whereas 1 & >4 mg/ml for 15% Sn doped In2O3 NPs, respectively. The topographical alteration caused by Sn doped In2O3 NPs on Candida cells, was clearly observed by SEM examination. A significant enhancement in anticandidal activity was seen, when Candida cells were exposed to (Sn/In = 5%, 10% and 15%). Moreover, we have also evaluated the impact of Sn-In2O3 NPs on human colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT-116). The results demonstrated that Sn-In2O3 NPs (Sn/In = 5%, 10% and 15%), caused dose dependent decrease in the cancer cell viability as the low dosage (2.0 mg/mL) showed 62.11% cell viability, while 4.0, 8.0, 16.0, 32.0 mg/mL dosages showed 20.45%, 18.25%, 16.58%, and 15.58% cell viability. In addition, the treatment of Sn-In2O3 NPs also showed significant cellular and anatomical changes in cancer cells as examined by microscopes. We have also examined the impact of Sn-In2O3 NPs (5%, 10%, 15%) on normal cells (HEK-293) and the results demonstrate that Sn-In2O3 NPs did not reduce the cell viability of normal cells.

Newly synthesized 3-(4-chloro-phenyl)-3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-propionic acid methyl ester derivatives selectively inhibit the proliferation of colon cancer cells

A series of 24 compounds were synthesized based on structure modification of the model methyl-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropanoate as potent HDACIs. Saponification and hydrazinolysis of the model ester afforded the corresponding acid and hydrazide, respectively. The model ester was transformed into the corresponding trichloroacetimidate or acetate by the reaction with trichloroacetonitrile and acetic anhydride, respectively. N-Alkyl-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropan-amides and methyl-2-[(3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropanoyl)amino] alkanoates were obtained by the reaction of corresponding acid or hydrazide with amines and amino acid esters via DCC and azide coupling methods. Methyl-3-aryl-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2-dimethylpropanoates were obtained in good yields and short reaction time from the corresponding trichloroacetimidate or acetate by the reaction with C-active nucleophiles in the presence of TMSOTf (0.1 eq.%) via C–C bond formation. The antiproliferative and apoptotic activity were further studied with molecular docking. The 48 post-treatments showed that out of 24 compounds, 12 compounds showed inhibitory actions on HCT-116 cells, we have calculated the inhibitory action (IC₅₀) of these compounds on HCT-116 and we have found that the IC₅₀ values were in between 0.12 mg mL⁻¹ to 0.81 mg mL⁻¹. The compounds (7a & 7g) showed highest inhibitory activity (0.12 mg mL⁻¹), whereas compound 7d showed the lowest inhibitory activity (0.81 mg mL⁻¹). We have also examined inhibitory action on normal and non-cancerous cells (HEK-293 cells) and confirmed that action of these compounds was specific to cancerous cells. The cancerous cells were also examined for nuclear disintegration through staining with DAPI, (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) is a blue-fluorescent DNA stain, and we have found that there was loss of DAPI staining in the compound treated cancerous cells. The compounds were found to potentially act through the HSP90 and TRAP1 mediated signaling pathway. Compounds 7a and 7g showed the highest selectivity to TRAP1 which explained its superior activity.

A series of 24 compounds were synthesized based on structure modification of the model methyl-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropanoate as potent HDACIs.

UsingFomitopsis pinicolafor bioinspired synthesis of titanium dioxide and silver nanoparticles, targeting biomedical applications

The current study proposes a bio-directed approach for the formation of titanium oxide and silver nanoparticles (TiO₂ and Ag NPs), using a wild mushroom, Fomitopsis pinicola, identified by 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing (gene accession no. MK635350) and phenotypic examination. NP synthesis was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopy (DR-UV), and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM). Furthermore, the impact of NPs on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and a human colon cancer cell line (HCT) were evaluated by MIC/MBC and MTT assays, respectively, along with structural morphogenesis by different microscopy methods. The results obtained showed that TiO₂ and Ag NPs were found to be significantly active, however, slightly enhanced antibacterial and anticancer action was seen with Ag NPs (10–30 nm). Such NPs can be utilized to control and treat infectious diseases and colon cancer and therefore have potential in a range of biomedical applications.

This study proposes a bio-directed approach for the formation of titanium oxide and silver nanoparticles (TiO₂ and Ag NPs), using a wild mushroom, Fomitopsis pinicola, identified by 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing (gene accession no. MK635350) and phenotypic examination.

Synthesis and biological characterization of Mn0.5Zn0.5EuxDyxFe1.8-2xO4 nanoparticles by sonochemical approach

Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) possess unique properties which makes them attractive candidates for various applications especially in field of experimental medicine and drug delivery. Many approaches were developed to synthesize divers and customized metallic NPs that can be useful in many areas such as, experimental medicine, drug design, drug delivery, electrical and electronic engineering, electrochemical sensors, and biochemical sensors. Among different metallic nanoparticles, manganese (Mn) NPs are the most prominent materials, in the present study, we have synthetized unique Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Dy_xEu_xFe_1.8-2xO₄ NPs by using ultrasonication method (x ≤ 0.1). The structure, and surface morphology of Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Dy_xEu_xFe_1.8-2xO₄ NPs was characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM and EDX methods. We have examined the biological effects of Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Dy_xEu_xFe_1.8-2xO₄ NPs on both normal (HEK-293) and cancerous (HCT-116) cells. We have found that the treatment of Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Dy_xEu_xFe_1.8-2xO₄ NPs post 48 h, showed significant decline in cancer cells population as revealed by MTT assay. The IC₅₀ value of Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Dy_xEu_xFe_1.8-2xO₄ NPs was ranged between (2.35 μg/mL to 2.33 μg/mL). To check the specificity of the actions, we found that the treatment of Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Dy_xEu_xFe_1.8-2xO₄ NPs did not produce any effects on the normal cells, which suggest that Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Dy_xEu_xFe_1.8-2xO₄ NPs selectively targeted the cancerous cells. The anti-bacterial properties of Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Dy_xEu_xFe_1.8-2xO₄ NPs were also evaluated by MIC and MBC assays. We suggest that Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Dy_xEu_xFe_1.8-2xO₄ NPs produced by sonochemical method possess potential anti-cancer and anti-bacterial capabilities.

Targeted delivery of poly (methyl methacrylate) particles in colon cancer cells selectively attenuates cancer cell proliferation

Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is basically biocompatible polyester with high resistance to chemical hydrolysis, and high drug permeability and the most important characteristics of PMMA is that it does not produce any toxicity. There is not much information about PMMA action on the colon cancer cells. In the present study, we have synthesized PMMA nanoparticles. The distribution pattern of PMMA particles was analysed by Zeta sizer and the size of the particles was calculated by using quasi elastic light scattering (QELS). The surface structure and the morphology of PMMA were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), respectively. We have also analysed their effects on cancerous cells (human colorectal carcinoma cells, HCT-116) and normal, healthy cells (human embryonic kidney cells, HEK-293) by using morphometric, MTT, DAPI and wound healing methods. We report that PMMA particles inhibited the cancer cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. The lower dose (1.0 μg/ml) showed a moderate decrease in cancer cell viability, whereas higher dosages (2.5 μg/ml, 5.0 μg/mL and 7.5 μg/mL) showed steadily decrease in the cancer cell viability. We also report that PMMA is highly selective to cancerous cells (HCT-116), as we did not find any action on the normal healthy cells (HEK-293). In conclusion, our results suggest PMMA particles are potential biomaterials to be used in the treatment of colon cancer.

Role of Lipid Rafts in Hematopoietic Stem Cells Homing, Mobilization, Hibernation, and Differentiation

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are multipotent, self-renewing cells that can differentiate into myeloid or lymphoid cells. The mobilization and differentiation processes are affected by the external environment, such as extracellular matrix and soluble molecules in the niche, where the lipid rafts (LRs) of the HSCs act as the receptors and control platforms for these effectors. LRs are membrane microdomains that are enriched in cholesterol, sphingolipid, and proteins. They are involved in diverse cellular processes including morphogenesis, cytokinesis, signaling, endocytic events, and response to the environment. They are also involved in different types of diseases, such as cancer, Alzheimer's, and prion disease. LR clustering and disruption contribute directly to the differentiation, homing, hibernation, or mobilization of HSCs. Thus, characterization of LR integrity may provide a promising approach to controlling the fate of stem cells for clinical applications. In this review, we show the critical role of LR modification (clustering, disruption, protein incorporation, and signal responding) in deciding the fate of HSCs, under the effect of soluble cytokines such as stem cell factor (SCF), transforming growth factor- β (TGF-β), hematopoietic-specific phospholipase Cβ2 (PLC-β2), and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF).

Systematic analyses for candidate genes of milk production traits in water buffalo (Bubalus Bubalis)

Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is of great economic importance as a provider of milk and meat in many countries. However, the milk yield of buffalo is much lower than that of Holstein cows. Selection of candidate genes related to milk production traits can be applied to improve buffalo milk performance. A systematic review of studies of these candidate genes will be greatly beneficial for researchers to timely and efficiently understand the research development of molecular markers for buffalo milk production traits. Here, we identified and classified the candidate genes associated with buffalo milk production traits. A total of 517 candidate genes have been identified as being associated with milk performance in different buffalo breeds. Nineteen candidate genes containing 47 mutation sites have been identified using the candidate gene approach. In addition, 499 candidate genes have been identified in six genome-wide association studies (GWASes) including two studies performed with the bovine SNP chip and four studies with the buffalo SNP chip. Genes CTNND2 (catenin delta 2), APOB (apolipoprotein B), FHIT (fragile histidine triad) and ESRRG (estrogen related receptor gamma) were identified in at least two GWASes. These four genes, especially APOB, deserve further study to explore regulatory roles in buffalo milk production. With growth in the number of buffalo genomic studies, more candidate genes associated with buffalo milk production traits will be identified. Therefore, future studies, such as those investigating gene location and functional analyses, are necessary to facilitate the exploitation of genetic potential and the improvement of buffalo milk performance.

Functionalized magnetic nanoparticles attenuate cancer cells proliferation: Transmission electron microscopy analysis

The penetration and transportation of nanoparticles (NPs) inside the cancer cells is critical to study. In this article, cancer cells (HCT-116) were treated with functionalized magnetic NPs for the period of 48 hr and studied their ultrastructure by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The NPs-treated cells were prepared by chemical fixation and sliced into electron-transparent arbitrary sections (200 × 200 μm² ) by ultramicrotome. Major events of NPs-cell interaction, such as penetration of NPs, encapsulation of NPs into the intracellular compartments, transportation of NPs, and NPs exit, were examined by TEM to understand the mechanism of cell death. The NPs showed the uniform spherical shape with broad size distribution (100-400 nm), while cells displayed irregular morphology with average diameter ~5 μm. Our results showed the successful penetration of NPs deep into the cell, encapsulation, transportation, and exocytosis. Furthermore, we tested the different concentrations (0, 1.5, 12.5, and 50 μg/ml) of NPs on cancer cells and evaluated the cell viability. Laser confocal microscopy and colorimetric analysis together demonstrated that the cell viability is a dose-dependent phenomenon, where 50 μg/ml specimen showed the highest killing of cancer cells compared to other dosages.

Effect of Laryngoscopy and Tracheal Intubation on Pulse Pressure and Influence of Age on this Response

The study objective was to measure the change in pulse pressure associated with laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation and to relate these changes to trends in systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure. The rationale was that the rise in systolic and diastolic blood pressure may be disproportionate and may result in either increase or decrease in pulse pressure. We also looked at the influence of age on this response. This prospective observational study measured the changes in pulse pressure secondary to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation in eighty adult surgical patients. Two groups of forty patients each were included, young (group A) 18–25 years and middle-aged (group B) 45–55 years. The patients were ASA Class 1 or 2, of either gender, and non-hypertensive. Systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure, and heart rate were measured preinduction and 1, 2 and 3 minutes after induction. Thereafter they were measured every minute for five minutes after intubation. Pulse pressure was obtained by subtracting the diastolic from the systolic blood pressure. No pulse pressure change occurred in the young group despite of a significant increase in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The middle aged group showed an average rise of +18 mm of Hg in pulse pressure (taken at 1 minute post-intubation) compared to the baseline measurement (P<0.0001). These changes in pulse pressure during anaesthesia may indicate an additional pulsatile stress in vulnerable patients in addition to the changes associated with resistance alone and need to be studied further.